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Gland, Switzerland, 18 November 2003 (IUCN-The World Conservation Union). The Seychelles, the Galapagos, Hawaii, the remote South Atlantic islands - all conjure up images of tropical paradise or rugged beauty. But beneath these islands' striking appeal lies a story of invasion and destruction that is undermining the future of thousands of native species.

On November 13th, at the "Conservation is Good Business" symposium in Washington, D.C., the President of Botswana, Festus Mogae embraced the concept of sustainable economic development as the only option that offers hope for struggling African countries.

African women still have a long way to go to break through the glass ceiling in the largely male-dominated worlds of business and politics, but in the field of conservation in Africa, women are making important breakthroughs.

On September 8-17, 2003, conservationists, business leaders and government officials gathered in Durban, South Africa for the once-per-decade World Parks Congress to debate the future of the world's national parks and protected areas. The 2003 Congress took place, for the first time in history, in Africa, placing a special focus on Africa's parks and protected areas.

The goal of the Grevy Zebra Project, in AWF-designated Samburu Heartland, over the past year has been to better understand the population and distribution of these magnificent animals. Found only in Africa north of the equator, Grevy's zebras are highly endangered.

A total of 450 Grevy's zebras have been documented in the communal lands around the Samburu National Reserve. They are on a relatively small part of their traditional range.